Coppell ● Las Colinas ● Valley Ranch RamblerRamblerRambler Coppell ●● IrvingLas Colinas ● ● Valley Ranch PAINTING & CONSTRUCTION ● Irving ● on any interior paint job SAVE 25% over $1000 Not valid with any other oer. Expires 3/31/13 972-745-1888 RamblerRamblerRambler March 9, 2013 50¢ New women’s club brings politics closer to the people By Will Jukes “I feel our mission is to educate our voters, inform them, and inspire them sic jurisdiction of the State Board of Education The Coppell Republican Women’s Club (which includes funding, curriculum formation hosted State Representative Bennet Ratliff to get out and really be able to talk to others about what’s going on.” and charter school oversight), but also touched and Board of Education member Pat Hardy — Kit Whitehill on issues concerning current state policy on for a meet-and-greet and talk on education and education. She devoted particular attention state government. It was a rare opportunity for really be able to talk to others about what’s go- Board of Education representative for District to quelling fears about C-SCOPE, a recently constituents to hear and engage with represen- ing on,” said Kit Whitehill, President of the Cop- 11, a chance to connect with a new element of adopted curriculum standard that has been the tatives at a higher level. The club, which formed pell Republican Women’s club. “My husband her constituency. As a result of a redistricting, subject of much media attention. in October, hopes to keep voters informed and ran for the Court of Appeals this last election. District 11 now represents both Irving and “C-SCOPE is a curriculum model that’s involved with precisely this kind of high profile I had never been involved in politics and had Coppell. being promoted by the regional service cen- engagement. been to lots of meetings and saw how important “Until November, this wasn’t in my dis- ters, and it’s the right of each school district “I feel our mission is to educate our voters, it is to not just vote, but to really be informed.” trict,” Hardy said. to choose to participate in this system, but inform them, and inspire them to get out and The meeting also gave Pat Hardy, the State Hardy gave a talk covering not only the ba- See REPUBLICANS, Page 12 Contentious vote extends contract one more year for IISD Superintendent By Amanda Casanova Huffstetler said in a letter sent The Irving Independent School out before Monday’s meeting that Board narrowly voted to extend Su- consideration of the contract exten- perintendent Dana Bedden’s contract sion is “the exact same procedure (the one more year in a decision that signi- board) has followed for years.” fied the political divisiveness of the “On the calendar, (consideration board just months before the election. of an extension) always comes after Board president Ronda Huff- the evaluation,” she said. “We follow stetler and trustees Gwen Craig, Jerry the guidelines established by the Christian and Valerie Jones voted for Texas Association of School Boards Ready to compete in their own backyard, Gerina Piller, Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford have already committed to the extension at the March 3 meeting. for superintendent contracts, evalu- playing in the North Texas LPGA Shootout in April. / Photo by John Starkey Trustees Steven Jones, Larry Stipes ations and extensions, which say, and Gail Conder Wells voted against. See SUPERINTENDENT, Page 2 Las Colinas to host spectacular golfers Solution proves elusive By Jess Paniszczyn sports. The only issue that they have had is that they Building excitement for the upcoming North haven’t had a big enough stage to shout the message Texas LPGA Shootout to be held April 25 to 28, the about the good things they do and showcase that for homeless teen problem Las Colinas Country Club hosted a Media Day on talent. Now when their ratings are up 70 percent, March 5. Three players committed to play in the they are in 165 countries and they’ve added eight By Phil Cerroni Herbert Gears and were declared the tournament, Brittany Lang of McKinney, Gerina events over the last two years and their social media People rarely fix problems they official liaison for homeless teenag- Piller of Plano and Angela Stanford of Fort Worth, following is growing; they’ve got that opportunity. don’t see on a regular basis, and they ers. Since then they have worked along with golf legend Kathy Whitworth joined This is the start of something special.” rarely do anything about problems tirelessly to help disadvantaged teen- LPGA representatives in formally welcoming area A professional golfer for 13 years, Angela Stan- they can ignore – a homeless dog agers become the successful adults business people and media representatives to the ford has been nicknamed ‘the fossil’ by some of the will roam the streets, but a homeless they have to potential to be. What new tournament. The Shootout will be The North younger, cheekier tour members. teenager will shuttle himself from separates the Advocates from most Texas region’s first LPGA Tour tournament in more “This tournament is pretty special,” Stanford couch to couch, motel room to motel organizations that reach out to home- than 20 years. said. “I’ve never been able to play in my backyard. room – maybe that is why we have less kids is that they do not focus on “Our product is fantastic; these girls are so tal- I have told people the LPGA is missing the boat by a $6 million animal shelter while all teens living on the street but only ented,” Kraig Kann, the LPGA’s Chief Communica- not being here. I understand the Dallas/Ft. Worth teenagers catch a night’s sleep at the on those who are working to stay in tions Officer, told the crowd. “The passion that these area. Las Colinas is the perfect spot for us because skate park. But people are working high school and earn their diploma. players have is off the charts. They are the greatest it kind of brings everyone to the middle geographi- to change that. Of the roughly 1,000 homeless ambassadors of their product in all of professional See LPGA, Page 5 In 2009, five women, calling or “unaccompanied youth” who come themselves the Advocates for Home- through Irving every year, 200-250 less Teens, met with Irving Mayor See TEENS, Page 12 WE CARE ABOUT YOU & YOUR FAMILY 972-253-4200 IRVING TEXAS IRVING PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE PERMIT #024981 PERMIT www.mscitx.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM After Hours Clinic: Lab & Radiology: No appointment necessary Mon-Fri 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Mon-Fri 5:00 PM–9:00 PM Not available for After Hours Clinic Sat & Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM In a video presentation by Ford, Driving Dreams winner Alexandria Martinez discussed Main Location: her plans to become a drug addiction counselor./ Source: Ford 2021 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, 75061 Other Locations: Irving High School student chosen Baylor MOBI: 2001 N. MacArthur Blvd. #425 as winner of Ford scholarship Valdez Clinic: Las Colinas: The Irving Rambler Box 177731 P.O. Irving, TX 75017 3501 N. MacArthur Blvd #400 6750 N. MacArthur Blvd. #250 By Will Jukes The award seeks to promote college Tuscan Cardiovascular Center: OB/GYN: Parents and educators gathered enrollment and on-time high school 701 Tuscan Dr #205 6750 N. MacArthur Blvd. #255 at the Irving ISD administration graduation in the district, and serves building for the presentation of Ford as the pilot for a program Ford seeks Motor Company’s Driving Dreams to expand to other districts across Tour Award on Feb. 28. the country. The Driving Dreams Tour, the “I actually wasn’t going to enter product of a partnership between the contest but at the last minute I Irving Rambler $0.50 Ford and Irving ISD, awarded Al- decided to do it. I poured my heart exandria Martinez a grand prize into in, and it’s been an incredible package that included a $5,000 journey since,” said Martinez, a stu- scholarship and a $3,000 grant to the dent at Irving High School, a soccer after-school program of her choice. See SCHOLARSHIP, Page 7 THEHAITI SERIES Photographs by irvingarts Open 7 Days a week TERRY COCKERHAM 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving TX 75062 IrvingArtsCenter.com Page 2 March 9, 2013 THE RAMBLER www.IrvingRambler.com Poll Library celebrates Muslim Journeys position Building Bridges Bookshelf Award Candidates for Irving City Council Join the Irving Public Library in been awarded to more than 800 Place 2, Rene’ celebrating the receipt of the Muslim libraries and universities across Castilla, Kensley Journeys Building Bridges Bookshelf the country. Stewart and Francis Award, 4 p.m. March 11 at West Several local municipal and Schommer choose Irving Library, 4444 W. Rochelle religious leaders will be on-hand to lots from a basket Road. Receipt of the award brings help celebrate the newest addition to determine their books, films and access for one year to Irving’s Public Library collection. name placement on to Oxford Islamic Studies Online to Confirmed attendees include Deputy the election ballot. the Irving Public Library system. Mayor Pro Tem Gerald Farris, Coun- Allan E. Meagher Developed by the National En- cilwoman Rose Cannaday, Imam Zia also running for dowment for the Humanities and the from the Islamic Center of Irving, Place 2 is not American Library Association, Mus- Rabbi Frank Joseph of Congregation pictured. lim Journeys is designed to address Irving Havurah and the Rev. Dominic / Photo by John Starkey the need of the American public for Colangelo from the Holy Family of trustworthy and accessible resources Nazareth Church.